Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence showing a causal relationship between any service-connected disability and the Veteran's death from congestive heart failure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's periods of qualifying service are unclear and requires further development to verify which portions were ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA. The AOJ must obtain addendum etiological opinions considering the comprehensive record, including the correct dates of all qualifying service, the correct MOSes, and the Veteran’s contentions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of degenerative arthrosis, right hand disability, DDD, lumbar spine, and tinnitus did not have their onset in service or within a year of separation. The preponderance of evidence is against finding any direct relationship between these conditions and active military service.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU effective April 1, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations. The issues of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, back condition, tinnitus, headache condition, COPD, stomach issues, and bilateral knee condition are being returned to the RO for further review.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they have been granted by a June 2020 rating decision. The issues of service connection for a stomach condition, to include GERD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include adjustment disorder with anxiety, secondary to service-connected status-post inguinal hernia repairs are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current tinnitus and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion from a previous VA examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss. The examiner needs to provide an updated opinion on whether the Veteran’s hearing loss is related to his service, including conceded in-service noise exposure, and if not, whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a chronic headache disorder for additional development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for tinnitus and has determined that he is entitled to service connection for this condition. The decision finds that the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus was incurred in or aggravated by his military service, with particular emphasis on his exposure to noise during his active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable prior to January 15, 2016. As of that date, his combined rating was at least 70 percent and he received a TDIU due to the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for left lower extremity radiculopathy is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is denied due to lack of in-service noise exposure and the absence of continuity of symptomatology.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as she does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claim for hepatitis disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's right forearm scar is granted a 10% disability rating effective December 4, 2017.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are both granted. The service connection for type II diabetes mellitus as secondary to herbicide-agent exposure is also granted.,A compensable disability rating for the right forearm scar prior to December 4, 2017, is denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension are not related to his active service. The claims for these conditions have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 50 percent prior to December 6, 2018. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU for the period prior to November 13, 2013.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and right and left foot disorders, back disorder, heart disorder, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) are all remanded for further development.,The Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence to establish a current disability for VA purposes for bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds the examination adequate as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's TDIU claim from August 1, 2014 is granted. The Board also dismissed the issues of increased ratings for lumbar strain post-operative fusion and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity associated with the lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including CAD and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The claim of entitlement to an initial rating higher than 30 percent for PTSD, right hip degenerative changes, and right thigh muscle injury status-post shrapnel wound is remanded.